Sea Bass Rig

[Gerry Zagorski]

This is a standard high low rig... In order to tie it you'll need to know how to tie dropper loops and once you establish the loops, you simply attach your pre snelled hooks on it and a sinker on the bottom.

You can fish this on anchor or on the drift just be sure to keep enough weight on it so you can hold or bounce it off the bottom.

If you're anchored you just drop it down and let it sit.. Unlike blackfish, sea bass are not shy so you can bounce your sinker around as well.

If you're drift fishing, let it hit the bottom and reel it up a few cranks to keep it a few feet off the bottom to avoid snags.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Fishing an Ava is usually done by drifting. Drop your Ava down so it makes contact with the bottom and reel it in a few cranks to keep it just above the bottom to avoid snags. As you drift along you sweep the rod tip up and let the jig flutter back down, once again keeping it close to but not on the bottom to avoid snags. You'll find most of the time your hits will come as the jig is fluttering back down.

This does require some work since you'll constantly be working the jig and re positioning the boat so you're drifting over productive bottom. The other plus to drifting is you cover more ground and this makes it easier to locate fish as opposed to committing to a spot and anchoring up.

If you find a consistent mother load as you drift, you can always anchor up and bait fish and work that particular area.

Drifting does require the right conditions. A slight wind or current to keep the boat moving is what you want. If it's really windy your drifts may become too fast anchoring might be the better choice.

[Gerry Zagorski]

And by the way.... A tip of the cap to all who worked to keep our season intact and got us a more days of fishing then we had last year.

If you're new to this fishery, give it a shot and jump on a charter or party boat and you'll be in for a real treat. Our season opens on 5/15 and many of of sponsors here will be fishing for them exclusively until Fluke opens up.

This is a great fishery for kids as well since here in NJ we have some of the best and most prolific Sea Bass fisheries along the entire coast. They are some fierce fighters, they feed aggressively so are easy to catch and their white sweet meat makes for excellent table fare.